Firearms magazine



March 24, 1931. A. F. GAIDOS 1,797,951

FIREARMS MAGAZ INE Original Filed Oct. 25, 92 2 Sh eets-Sheet 1 "I 1- I h i IN VE TO R.

TTORNEYS.

March 24, 1931. A. F. GAIDOS FIREARMS MAGAZINE Original Filed Oct. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 .GNETEO STATES Parent @FFHCE ALONZO F. GAIDOS, OF REDWOOD CETY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGISTOR T0 COLT'S PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTUREIIG COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT FIREARMS MAGAZINE Application filed Qctober 23, 1926, Serial No. 143,538. Renewed February 4, 1931.

p This invention relates to cartridge magazines such as employed in automatic pistols and the like and especially to an improved form of magazine wherein loading or un- 5 loading of the magazine is greatly facilitated.

The ordinary cartridge magazine used in conjunction with automatic fire arms such as pistols and the like consists principally of an elongated rectangular shaped magazine having a floor plate at the lower end, a pair of side Wings at the upper end, an interior follower plate and an actuating spring. The magazine is loaded by inserting the cartridges one by one between the upper wings of the magazine and forcing them, together with the follower plate, downwardly into the magazine against the resistance of the spring. This method of loading is comparatively slow and increasingly ditficult as the resistance of the spring increases, and the method has the further disadvantage that it does not permit of clip loading. 7

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of cartridge magazines of the character described and particularly to provide a magazine which overcomes the objections above specified, first by permitting insertion of the cartridges through the side of the magazine either individually or by clip action and secondly permitting loading or insertion of the cartridges Without resistance from the magazine spring.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic pistol showin the cartridge magazine partly removed.

ing the operation of opening and loading the magazine.

Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section of the cartridge magazine with the closure plate in its lowermost position.

Figure 5 is an edge View of the magazine with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross section of the cartridge magazine.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views show- Figure 1, A indicates, in general, a standard type of automatic pistol. Pistols of this character are provided with a hollow handle or grip which is adapted to receive a cartridge magazine generally indicated at C, the magazine being inserted through the lower end of the grip, as illustrated. The magazine lllIlS-l trated, in the present instance consists essentially of an elongated rectangular-shaped housing having a bottom section 2 and an upper open end 3 which is partially closed by inwardly bent side wings 4:, these wings serving the usual function of retaining the cartridges within the casing against the upward pressure of the magazine spring and the follower plate as will, hereinafter, be described. The follower plate referred to is generally indicated. at 5 and the magazine spring is indicated at 6 and it is interposed between the follower plate and the bottom section 2, thereby exerting a constant upward pressure on the cartridges such as indicated at 7. The magazine so far described is standard and is in common use, and is loaded from the upper end by inserting the cartridges one by one between the bent sections l and exerting downward pressure on the cartridges and the follower plate. This method of loading, as previously stated, is slow and becomes increasingly. difiicult as the spring 6 is placed under compression, the main purpose of thepresent invention being that of improving the general construction so that the loading and unloading may be greatly facilitated. This isaccomplished as follows By referring to Figures 2, 3, 4; and 5, it will be noted that the magazine is substantially rectangular-shaped both in crosssection and in side elevation and that one side of the magazine is cutaway as indicated at 8. By cutting away the magazine inthis manner, an elongated opening is formed which extends from end to end. This opening will, hereinafter, be referred to as the loading opening as the cartridges may be placed in the magazine by insertion through the opening either singly or'in a group as, for instance, in clip loading. It is, of course, essential to close the opening after insertion of the cartridges as they would otherwise have a tendency to fall out and a lower plate and compressing the springso as e to leave a clear and unobstructed space for the reception of. the cartridges. It is for this reason that the sliding plate or closure mem-- her 9' is provided for the purpose of depressing the follower plate. This is accomplished as follows Formedon one en'dof the follower plate is a downwardly extending section 10 and riveted or otherwise secured thereto as at 11 is a key member 12. This key extends through'a slot 14 formedin the cover plate 9 and the, function thereof will hereinafter be described. The plate 9 is slidable independent of the key 12 and it is also movable in unison therewith. Suchunitary movement, however, will only take place when the key 12' engages the upper end of the slot lt as shown in Figures 4 and5, that is if the magazine is empty and it is desired to depress the follower plate and compress the spring 6, the sliding plate is moved downwardly to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The key 12 is en gaged byt-he upper end of the sliding plate during such downward movement and the follower plate is, accordingly, depressed and the spring 6 compressed. The elongated loading opening 8 is at the 7 same time .uncovered and the magazine is left free and un obstructed for the reception of the cartridges. Means must, however, be provided for securing the follower plate when the depressed position is assumed as the upward pressure of the spring would, otherwise, return the follower plate and the cover-plate to their uppermost positions and thus defeat one of the main features of the present invention, to wit, that of permitting loading of the magazine from one side and without resistance from the magazine spring. I

' A latch 15 has, accordingly, been provided and the point ofthe latch enters an opening 16 formed in the lower end of the follower plate 10-. This latch is automatically projected into the-opening 16 when the follower plate reaches, depressed position, that is, as it is under-constant vtension'of a spring 17. This latch securesthe follower plate against compression of the spring'6 and return movement of the follower plate and closure member is, accordingly, prevented; The cartridges may now be introduced through the opening 8 either singly or in group formation, as for instance, from a clip and as the magazine is free and unobstructed the loading operation is rapid. After the cartridges have been introduced the sliding plate isinoved upwardly to close the opening 8, this being necessary as the cartridges might, otherwise, fall outwardly through the loading opening. As the sliding plate reaches closed position, a latch 18 on the lower end of the sliding plate is brought into engagement with a tripping projection 18a carried by the latch 15.

This engagement of 18, and the. tripping member on the latch 15 moves the latch outwardly from the opening 16 of the follower plate and .it is thereby released and the follower plate will immediately be moved upwardly against the cartridges,due to the pressure of the spring and it will continue to move upwardly as the cartridges arewithdrawn one by one by the pistol. It is, of course, understood that when the loading operation is completedand' the sliding plate moved back to closed position that the magazine isinserte'd in the grip of the pistol and'that the cartridges are automatically withdrawnone byone in the usualmanner.

In actual practice, a fairly. rigid connection must be formed between the'sliding plate and the magazine as devices of this character are subjected to more or less rough use. By referring to Figure '5, it will be noted that small projections 22 are left in the side of the magazine when forming the loading opening 8. These projections are best shown in Figures 5 and 6. The sides of the sliding plate are provided with grooves 23 and the projections 22 project into the grooves thus forming a rigid tongue and grooveconnection between the sliding plate and the magazine.

The key number 12 is also slotted on opposite sides as indicated at 2& and tongues 25 are formed on opposite sides of the slot 14 to guide and engage the key. It'will also be noted that the hook member 18 carries a lanyard swivel or pull ring 26, this being more or'less important as the finger may be inserted as illustrated in Figure 2, when the sliding plate is moved to depress the follower plate and compress the spring. The pull ring will, of course, also serve the function tice.

From the foregoingit will be noted that when the magazine is removed from the pis open position.: This uncovers the loadingof a lanyardswivel as in ordinary pracopening and at the same time'depresses the follower plate and compresses the magazine spring. The latch 15 furthermore automatically engages the follower plate and locks it in this position and the magazine is thus left desired to unload the magazine, it is only scribed, I wish it understood that various necessary to remove it from the handle of the pistol in the usual manner and then to pull the sliding plate to the open position shown in Figures 2 and 3. The cartridges may then be dumped out in one operation and the unloading operation is, accordingly, just as easily accomplished as the loading operation.

It should also be noted that the latch 18' serves two functions first that of engaging the trip member 180: to retract the latch 15 and thereby release the follower plate and secondly that of locking the cover plate in closed position as the latch 18 passes just beyond the upper fiat face of the trip member 18a and as such interlocks therewith and secures the cover plate when in closed position. It is, accordingly, necessary to release the interlock between the members 18 and 180 when the loading opening is to be uncovered and this is accomplished by exerting a slight pull on the extension indicated at 186.

Again by referring to Figures 2, 3 and 5, it will be noted that the cover plate 9 is provided with a slot 14:. This slot, as previously stated, permits closing movement of the closing plate without imparting movement to the key 12 and the follower plate to which it is attached. The slot 14 also serves another function to wit: that of visibly displaying the ends of the cartridges within the case. This is important as it first of all renders it possible to determine the number of cartridges in the magazine and secondly makes it possible to inspect the cartridge magazine after loading, that is, dummy cartridges, blank cartridges and loaded cartridges are often employed. These can be detected by the priming cap, hence, before inserting the cartridge case in the pistol it is possible to inspect the primers through the slot 14 to determine the type of ammunition employed.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically dechanges may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly that the materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:is

1. A firearms magazine of the character described having an opening formed in one side thereof through which cartridges may be introduced, the said magazine comprising in combination, a spring-pressed follower plate slidably mounted within the magazine and manually movable to its depressed position, a locking'means for holding the fol-. lower ,plate in its said depressed position, a closure carried by the magazine and manually movable to open position, and means operated by the closing movement of said closure for actuating the locking means. to release'the follower plate. 7

2. A firearms magazine .of the character described having an" opening formed in one side thereof through which cartridges may be introduced, the said magazine comprising in combination,-.a spring-pressed follower plate slidably mounted within the magazine and manually movable to its depressed position, means for automatically locking the follower plate in its said depressed position, a closure carriedby the magazine and manuallymovable to open position, and means operated by the closing movement of said closure for actuatingthe locking means to release the follower plate.

. 3. A firearms magazine of the character described having an opening formed in one side thereof through which cartridges may be introduced, the said magazine comprising in combination, a spring-pressed followerplate slidably mounted within the magazine, a closure carriedbythemagazine and manually movable toopen position, means actuated by the opening movement of the closure to move the follower plate to its depressed position, means for automatically locking the follower inits said depressed position, and means operated by the closing movement of said closure for actuating the locking means to re lease the follower plate.

4. A firearms magazine of the character described having an openingformed in one sidethereof through which cartridges may be introduced, the said magazine comprising in combination, a spring-pressed follower plate slidably mounted within the magazine, a closure carried by the magazine and manually movable to open position, means actuated by the opening movement of the closure to move the follower plate to its depressed position, means for automatically locking the follower in its said'depressed position, and means operated by the closing movement of said closure for actuating the locking means to release the follower plate and to lock the closure in its closed position.

5. In a firearms magazine of the character described having an' opening formed: in one side thereof through which cartridges maybe introduced singly or in a group, a follower plate slidably mounted within the magazine,

compression spring cooperating therewith,

a plate slidably mounted on the magazine adapted to open and close the opening in the magazine, and means whereby sliding movement'of the plate to open said opening maybe transmitted to depress the follower plate and simultaneously compress the spring, means automatically locking the'fol-' lower plate'against upward movement-when the spring is compressed, and means actuated by closing movement of the sliding plate whereby thefollow'er plate locking means is automatically released. 1

6. In a magazine of the character described: having an opening formed in one side thereof through .which. cartridges may be introduoed'singly 'orlin av group, a follower plateslidably mounted within the magazine,

a compression spring cooperating therewith,

a plate slidably mounted on the magazine and adapted to open and close the opening in themagazine, means whereby slidingmovement of the plate to open said opening opening. willbe transmitted at depress: the Q follower-plate: and simultaneously compress .ALONZG r. earnosl f 1 maybe transmitted to depress the follower plate and simultaneously compress the spring, a transversely movable latch member engageable to secure the follower plate when a predetermined depressed position is assumed, and means actuated'by a' closing movement ofthe sliding plate whereby the latch'is automatically disengaged with relation to the follower plate.

7. Ina magazine of the character described having an opening formed in one side thereof through which cartridgesmay be introduoed singly or in a group, a follower plate slidably mounted within the magazine, a compression spring cooperating therewith, aplate slidably mounted on the magazine and adapted to openand close the opening in the magazine, means whereby sliding movement of the plate to'open said opening is transmitted to depress the follower plate and simultaneously compress the spring, means to automatically secure the follower plate when a predetermineddepressed posi-- tion is assumed, means for automatically releasing said securing means upon closing of the sliding plate and means to secure'the slidingplate against movement when it assumes closed position. 1'

8. In afirearms magazine ofthe character described having an opening formed in one side thereof through which cartridges may be introduced singly or in a group, a fol-- lowerplate slidably mounted within the magazine, a compression spring cooperating therewith, a plate slidably mounted on the magazine and adapted to open and close the opening in the magazine, means wherebysliding movement oi the plate to open said 

